OMG! How long did this take me, i'm so ashamed! I thought i'd better update before it hit the year mark lol not funny really i am so sorry (runs and hides from angry mob) ive got excuses but i'm sure you dont want to hear them so i'm just going to get on with it
Disclaimer: Obviously i don't own Charmed if i did do you think Leo would have been killed off in the eighth season or even ended?
Reviews:
Maliphire: Thanx for the review! It was a long wait for the update and i am sorry about that! Hope you read on!
Shadow Land
Chapter Four: No I In Team
Leo was not looking forward to the forced conference between Penny and her aunts. He was not looking forward to facing his nieces and his children after they found out their mothers had come to Earth either. But this was the life of a Black Knight and there was nothing he could do about it.
Well, not unless he brought Paige and Piper back to live on Earth and that was something he was not about to let happen again. Not yet. It was still too dangerous and he would not put what was left of the Charmed Ones in danger. They still had so much to accomplish.
He called Penny to his office and waited. Ten minutes later she stalked into the office. "What's up with you?" He said gently. "I'm on Parole!" She snarled. "Clay put me on Parole!" Leo put his hand through his hair. This day was getting better and better.
"And why was that?" "How the hell should I know?" Penny bit out. Leo simply raised an eyebrow and Penny flinched. "Ok so I had a bit of a miscalculation during the assignment today it was no big deal." "No big deal?" Leo asked neutrally.
He'd get it out of her yet. Penny looked at him and her face fell. "Chris told you didn't he?" "He mentioned it." Leo said still remaining neutral. "Personally I must admit that I'd rather hear it from your point of view darling."
"From the beginning?" Penny asked caving in. She knew her uncle would not like hearing it but he was the leader of The Black Knights and what was more he was her uncle and he would understand.
"From the beginning." Leo said letting a small smile through his façade. If there was anyone she was entirely truthful with it was he and was grateful for that. "I was stupid uncle Leo." She said at last. "You know you can't afford to be stupid Penny." Leo said softly.
"I know." Penny said frustrated. "I just saw those witch hunters and I lost it. I mean every time I see them I see mom on that pyre and I see their faces. Not one of them was bothered that they were killing her. Not one." She finished quietly.
"I know I shouldn't bring this into the missions I know you worry enough already without this as well but I can't help it and then when I got trapped all I could think was that Drake wasn't doing what he was meant too and I got angry."
She stopped talking abruptly and shook her head. "I'm not being a good field agent I know that Uncle Leo. I just…I don't know. Something is wrong, I feel lit something is about to change and it scares me. The Witch Hunters are not doing as much, they're so close to the base and yet they don't seem bothered that they haven't found it. Something isn't right."
She looked at Leo and lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry I know I'm probably not making any sense." "No honey you are but for the moment this isn't something we should be concerned about but thank-you for the head's up anyway I needed the second opinion and appreciate it."
Penny frowned at her uncle and then decided to leave it. Leo knew more than the combined power of the Black Knights with all the information he was constantly able to get from various agents all over the globe and from his own intuition, which had saved him and others more than once.
Still, as she usually did she wondered what her uncle knew that she didn't and wondered if she would ever truly know the inner workings of Leo's mind. Running the Black Knights was like second nature to him now and she wondered if he even knew how NOT to be the Knight Leader.
Probably not.
"Penny this isn't the first time I've had complaints about your independence. I know you want to make a difference and I know you're a good agent. Blue Fire is one of our best agents but this can't keep happening."
Penny nodded her head and felt ashamed. Leo was her uncle and he loved her and she hated that her actions were causing him to do this but when she had become an active Black Knight Leo had told them all, all his kids that there would be no special treatment. She could understand that. He couldn't be seen to be favouring if they did something wrong he had to call them on it.
"And since you're not listening to your team mates, your cousins or me it's time I think you heard from someone I think you will listen too."
Penny looked up. What could he mean? She cringed as she saw the disappointment in his eyes before his emotions shuttered off and he became the infamous Black Knight leader again.
"Sit down Penny." Leo's tone was final and she knew that she was in trouble she had pushed and pushed and the Knights had had enough and now they were pushing back. She felt resentment climb into her throat. She knew they had their reasons but it didn't mean she had to like it. In fact she didn't like it in the slightest.
She was a Black Knight! She got the missions done and she did them well within her orders. Of course this was not what her uncle had finally called her on. Her performance in her team today with Drake was simply another incident in a long line of incidents where Penny had proved, yet again, that while she was one of the best field agents she didn't have what it took to work in a team as was expected of her in times such as these.
Give her a solo mission and she could be in and out and job done before the witch hunters could blink but she had trust issues that stemmed from her mother being taken from her. She didn't like teams, she knew they were a necessary evil but she didn't like them and incidents like this only made it obvious to anyone who would care to look.
She winced again. She hated when she disappointed her uncle. She could put up a front of "I don't care." To anyone else including anyone of her cousins, including Chris who she was closest too but not against her uncle.
"I said I was sorry Leo. Teamwork isn't my strong point. I'm working on it but you need to give me more time." Leo looked at his youngest niece. "You've run out of time Penny."
Penny looked up. "This isn't the first time and nor do I doubt it will be the last. As I've said since you're not listening to me or your cousins or your team its time you listened to someone who knows exactly what you've been doing."
As he said this he waved his hand and white light appeared in the room she recognised the white lights as orbes and waited vaguely through the light she saw two figures and when the lights faded her aunts were stood next to Leo their hands on their hips.
Penny's hand flew to her mouth. "Aunt Paige!" She whispered. "Aunt Piper." After a moment of being frozen in surprise she jumped up and ran and hugged her aunts that had been missing from her life for so long. "Penny Sweetie." Piper said both she and Paige returning their niece's hugs.
"Oh my god! We've all missed you so much!" She said meaning it. "I know." Piper said caressing Penny's hair gently. "I know sweetie." "Can we see the other kids Leo?" Paige asked. "We haven't got long and I haven't seen my girls or the other kids for so long."
Leo smiled. "I think I can arrange that but first I think someone needs you." With that he stood up and walked out leaving Penny with her aunts.
"We're going to be part of the Council later today." Paige was the first to speak after Leo's departure but we thought we'd come and speak to you first. Leo tells us you've been getting into some trouble and we don't like the sound of that."
Penny lowered her head. This was worse than disappointing Leo. She always wanted to do her aunts proud but if they were speaking to her like this then she certainly didn't impress them. She groaned.
"There was an ambush today and I blew my top. I'm on probation." Penny said quietly. "You're lucky that's all it is." Piper said. "Just because Paige and I live in exile doesn't mean we don't know what goes on down here with all of you. Penny I know you miss your mother…"
Penny snapped.
"YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE HOW I FEEL!" She screamed. Piper simply raised an eyebrow but kept quiet. "YOU CAN'T! I DON'T HAVE A MOTHER ANYMORE AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THOSE STUPID HUMANS!"
Paige flinched at the hatred in Penny's voice. This had to be stopped this could not go on. This had to be stopped before her sister's daughter made the same mistake as her mother. Paige would not let the lesson the Charmed Ones had learned that day be lost.
Penny was breathing hard and staring at her aunts who were staring right back. "I lost my mother when I was younger than you." Piper said levelly. "And it was to evil, some humans can be evil the way demons can. But we are not to judge."
"We protect those that are innocent Penny it is not up to you to decide who is and who isn't. That is the life of a witch." Paige said gently.
"So you're telling me I have to protect people out there who would rather see me die?" Penny scoffed "I'd rather not be a witch."
"And if you keep going the way you're going you won't be one any longer." Piper snapped. Penny looked at her. "You wouldn't dare! You couldn't… You wouldn't!" "Oh I would." Piper snarled. "It's Leo that wouldn't he's tired to protect you from our wrath for two years now. This is long overdue. I'm warning you Penny either act like a witch or deal with the consequences. You are turning into them!" Piper pointed out the window.
Penny stared. "How dare you?" She snarled. "You hide up there safe, you couldn't help mom when she needed it most and you have no idea what goes on out there. How dare you!"
She screamed the words unable to hold back the tide and when she was done she clapped her hand across her mouth in horror. She couldn't believe she'd just said those things to her aunts. She loved them!
She managed to look into Piper's eyes and knew she had made a mistake. "You have no idea what happened the day your mother died Penny." Piper snapped. "Your mother died because she had overstepped the line a line you are very close to crossing yourself."
"She chose to punish the guilty rather than protect the innocent and it cost her her life. Just because she was your mother do not presume to tell us what is right and what isn't. She became the very thing she was fighting against. We swore we would never let you know this. But it's not up to us anymore. Phoebe might be gone but I will not let the lesson she had to learn the hard way be unheeded." Paige said simply but the anger in her voice was evident.
Penny had very few memories of her aunts but all of them consisted of her aunt Paige being the less-than-serious sister and here she was being sharp and course. It was then Penny realised just how far in over her head she was.
Piper sighed and pulled her niece into her arms. "It is unfair that she's gone and we miss her everyday. It's unfair that we got to spend so much time with her and you so little, but you must understand we tried to save her but there was a lesson to be learned. We use our powers for good and Phoebe crossed that line and we couldn't get to her in time."
Penny buried her head in Piper's neck and Piper rubbed Penny's back as she felt tears beginning to drip onto her skin. "We miss her too you know." She said gently. She tipped Penny's face up so she could see her face.
"It's okay to miss her but it's not okay to put people in danger because you miss her." Penny sighed. Deep in her heart she knew this but her anger and hatred had eclipsed everything else. She did want to be a good witch and she knew that her hatred was beginning to affect her ability to do so.
"I know that." She whispered. "It's just so hard." Paige nodded. "We know that sweetheart. But we're here to tell you that as you're aunts and your old mentors you will be taken off field duty for the foreseeable future. It's not a definite punishment but it is the one we will be putting towards the Council."
Penny nodded. "Thanks for warning me at least." Piper nodded. "Honey, it's what we're here for now why don't you tell me about your latest field missions. I think we're all done yelling and hopefully I'm gonna see the other kids today so why not talk while we can here you."
Penny laughed and remembered why it was that she missed her aunts so much. She felt bad for what she had said to them because it hadn't been their fault Phoebe had died and they'd had to leave their kids the same. Leo had become like a foster father to all of them.
She looked at Piper and Paige and they smiled softly. Everything seemed to be getting better now though and they'd forgiven her so she began to talk.
Leo left the main building giving the girls time to talk to Penny before he brought in the Halliwell Horde. He wasn't going to let the kids in but he figured it had been a while since they'd seen their aunt, mothers respectively so it was only fair.
In the meantime he set a course for the medical tent in the hopes of finding Zack. The teen confused him. He knew there was more to him than what he was seeing and he prayed that what he had picked up in healing was wrong. But only time would tell what was truly going on in that head of his.
He pulled back the curtain and smiled as he heard Melinda talking to him. "Where is Penny?" He heard her ask. She smiled. "She's in the main building at the moment I'm sure that after she's had her debrief then she could possibly come over and visit." Leo saw her grin. "Why? Am I not good enough for you?"
Leo had to stifle a laugh as Zack spluttered. After a few seconds Melinda took pity on him and said, "Don't worry honey I knew what you meant. I'll ask Leo when he comes to visit."
She turned and smiled. "And here he is speak of the devil." Leo smiled at his daughter. "How are we doing Zack?" Zack struggled to sit up to meet Leo properly.
"I owe you a huge thank-you." He said sincerely. "It was nothing how are you feeling now?" "Much better." He nodded smiling. Leo smiled. "Can you remember what happened?"
Zack shook his head. "It's all in bits. I was trying to explain to Melinda that sometimes its almost as if I can remember and then others there's nothing there at all." Leo nodded, he wasn't exactly sure that his was the whole truth but he wouldn't push. At least not yet. He was in no danger of causing damage as of yet so that wouldn't matter.
Leo looked at Melinda. "Melinda can I speak to you outside please?" Melinda nodded. "I'll be back Zack." He nodded and clasped her hand briefly before letting go. "You're going on field duty for the foreseeable future." Leo said without moving his mouth. "You're replacing Penny for the time being." Melinda nodded sadly.
She'd spoken to her cousins and they'd thought it would come to this. Melinda didn't like field duty. She wanted to help people not hurt people but if it was expected of her then she would do it she knew they didn't really have much other choice.
"The final word will be given at the Council later today I expect you and the others to be there and spread the word to Penny's team they will also want to know."
Melinda nodded solomy. "I never wanted it to come to this." She said eeping her voice even. Leo gave her a quick hug now they were out of sight of Zack. "I know but this is what has been decided and we must accept it be at the Council at noon."
Melinda nodded and walked off.
Leo sighed and returned to the medical tent to see to Zack and say that Melinda would no longer his nurse though he wasn't sure who his replacement would be. Zack seemed disappointed but with all the activity going on around him he understood the need. Leo left feeling that it wouldn't be long before Zack could be up and about and doing simple tasks. It now looked like it would be Penny that would be assisting him to do these things but he would wait and see.
The Council was held that afternoon and the whole of Penny's team were there as well as the whole of the Halliwell Clan including Wyatt who had returned from deep cover to be there for his cousin.
It was short and the outcome was as Penny had expected. Leo had warned her and given all the information he had been given from Clay and the others in her team he had no choice but to suspend her from active duty taking Melinda's place in the Medical Tent for the foreseeable future.
As Clay, Drake, Jensen and Marie the Halliwell horde went to do the same and Leo stopped them. "Wait kids we're done yet." "What else is there to do?" Chris demanded annoyed that Penny had had to go through this but pleased if it meant she would stop and think for a moment before acting.
If she kept it up she would get killed pure and simple.
"Well," Leo looked at Penny and grinned. "There are people here to see you." He waved his hand and white orbes appeared and just as they had earlier when they faded Piper and Paige were stood in the conference. "If you don't want to see his Chris you can leave." Piper said smiling.
"Mom!" Melinda yelled the first to react and threw herself into Piper's arms. The others followed and the noise level in Leo's office grew louder. Penny stood off to the side as she had had her time earlier in the day. The twins hugged their mum long and hard and then pushed in to see Piper.
"Why are you here mom Paige?" Wyatt asked when he finally untangled himself from the knot of arms. "Because we were the ones that sentenced Penny." Piper said looking at Penny and then hugging her again. "It's been something we've threatened to do for a while now and because she wasn't improving we've had to act."
Paige looked at Penny then. "It's not what we wanted but we refused to see her fall into trouble because she has forgotten the lessons she was taught to be a witch. Before she can be a field agent again she needs to realise that there is no I in team for a reason."
Penny nodded. "They're right. I'm not only putting myself in danger I might hurt you guys as well and that would be worse I couldn't stand that something I might have done would hurt you."
"You're taking Melinda's place in the medical tent until further notice." Leo said looking up from where he was looking over his latest progress reports from his other agents.
"Right." Penny nodded and then because the business was over the Halliwell Horde were able to use the afternoon being together because for that small space of time they could be a family again.